Flashlight having a sealed flexible casing



March 17, 1953 R. G. AKERLEY 2,632,094

FLASHLIGHT HAVING A SEALED FLEXIBLE CASING Filed Feb 7, 1949 .[nven for Robert G A/(e rley By his Attorney Patented Mar. 17, 1953 OFFICE Robert: G.- Akerley, Beverly, Massim- Ap l cation, February 7, 1949, Serial No. 14,9201. f

3 Claims; 01. 240 10.68

- Thepresent'inventiorrrelates to-flashlights-and consists in the novelfeatures hereinaiter "described, -reference being bad to the accompanyingdrawin'gswhich illustrate-embodiment of the invention, selected for-purposesof illustration,- saiddnvention being fully-disclosed in the following-descri-ptionand-claims:

In the accompanying drawings Fige 1 is a longitudinal-median section-"f one formzof flashli'ght embodyingmy invention Fig; '2 is an 'exploded view showing in perspective the: var-ious-parts of the =-flashlightillustrated in Fi'g-zly Fig. 3 15a sectionon-linelII -III of Fig.1

Fig. 4 is a longitudinalw-median sectional view showing a slightly -difierent' type offlashlight having a prefocused bulb and a reflector as distinguished from a bulb havin eamagnifying tip which does not use-a reflector such as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.; and

Fig. is a longitudinal sectionai'yiewshowing another-type of flashlight somewhatsimilar. to that shown inFigs. 1 and 2 The illustrativeflashlights LMFigQI), A (Fig. 4) and 1 0B :(Fig. .5) which embody the present invention are 1 of r the non-refillable type and are thrownaway once dry-cells orbatteries l2 used-in them'fail.

The-flashlights! 0, :l and 10B" have casings comprising cylindrical-tubes. .4 4 (Figs::1,- 2 and 3);

MA .(Fig. 4): and |4B.'I(Fig. 5):"and'l transparent front caps-lor-disks lfi, l liA'and I63 and rear caps ordisks' i8, :1 8A and I8B,ithe front capsserving as lensesand the rears-caps serving as windows for viewing advertising upon the'outer sides of labels ;"2 OA'and 203 which in the finished flash lights a-re'interposedbetween the rear ends ofthe batteriesand :the rearrccaps. The tubes I 4,- 14A andal 4B,,"the-front caps'orgdisks .16, 16A and 16B and the rear caps [8, ISA andJ 8B are preferably made zof dielectric, .noninflammable,- iwaterand gas-resistant plasticwhich is sufliciently rigid .to stand up against wear :but which has-considerable flexibility'for: thelpurposeso-f operating-the flash,- lights as will behereinafter. explained; 7

Each ofthe'ba'tteries l2 has a cross-section approximately-the same:as thatbf the inside of its associated-tubeand is of 'suitable size to fit'in and to'be forced slidably into the 1 respective tubes l4yl4A-and MB;-each of said batteries also having'a contact or terminal 22"and an-outenshell 24 which constitutes the other orsecond contact or terminaL- In' the flashlight shown in =Figs;-- 1, 2 and fi, bulbs ZB -of the bulls-eye type are' used,

'saidbulbs having bases--21 andamagnifying tip,

In the flashlight shown'in Fig. l, there is disclosed a bulb 28" which is of the prefocused type and has associated with it a reflector 30 made of conducting material. The reflector 30, which also serves as'aspacer, is forced'against or secured to the base 32 "of" the bulb 28 and may be described as constituting part ofsuchbase since contact made with the-reflector for the purpose of closing the bulb circuit will be conducted to the base of the bulb;

The bases 2?, 32 of the bulbs 26; 28,'respectively, aresololered to the contact 22 of the battery 12 and flexible conductors or switches 34, 34A and 34B are soldered to the contact 24 of said battery. Forward unsupportedends of the conductors 34, 34A and 34B extend well forward of their associated batteries I 2 andalong the inner Walls of the tubes [4, 46A and I4B,;respectively.

In the manufacture of the flashlight I0 (Figs.

'1 and 2) the flange of the capor disk I6 is dipped,

for. the purpose of activation, in acetone or some other suitable solvent and is inserted under pressure and sprung into the forward end ofthe tube ,l 'a, the solvent on theflange activating the end part of the tube with which the flange en'- gages a waterand gas-tight joint being formed between the cap [6 andthe tube Id; The assembled battery l2, bulb 26 and conductor 34 are thenwslidrinto the tube [4, andafter inserting the -1abel29 into the tube behind the battery, the rear cap ,-i8,,- the flange of which has been activated with acetone, is forced into-the tube 14 with suflicient, pressure to cause the magnifying tip of the bulbslightly to blow out the cap l6, said rear cap being held under pressure inforced engagement in the tube fora suflicient period to permit theproper adhering togetherpf the tube andthe cap and the forming-of a waterand gas-tight joint betweenthe tube and the rear cap.

Extending approximately from one :Side, of the tube l4 to-the other and surrounding or straddling thebase-Z 'i of thebulbZB is a loop slide or fricforcing with .substantialpressurethe p. ainst parent can 3 the bas 21 of the bulb 26 is a spring metal binding yoke 42 which serves to maintain the loop in its adjusted position transversely upon the base of the bulb but permits, when pressure is applied against the ends of the loop by bringing pressure to bear against identified portions of the outside of the tube, hereinafter referred to, the loop to slide transversely sufiicient'ly to move the end of the conductor 34 into engagement with the base 21, thereby igniting the bulb. The loop 35 holds the conductor 3-21 in position until said loop is pushed in a reverse direction by applying pressure at an opposite identified portion of the tube to permit the unsupported portion of the conductor 34 to move away from the base of the tube. In order to insure that the flashlight user may readily press the tube i l at the proper position to light and put out or extinguish the bulb 26, the tube is provided with red and black blisters 44 and 4t arranged at opposite sides of the tube. When it is desired to ignite the bulb 28 without causing the conductor 3i to be automatically held against the base 21 of the bulb 26 as above described, there is provided a blue blister 58 which,

when pressed, moves the conductor 34 against the bulb base El without eifecting movement of the loop 36, the conductor springing away from the base as soon as pressure is removed from said blue blister.

bled. Instead of having the magnifying tip bulb 26, the flashlight its. has the above-mentioned prefocused bulb 28 requiring the use of the reflector it which may be forced against or secured to the base of the bulb and considered part of the bulb, the reflector as it is assembled in the tube MA being forced against the front trans- ISA of the flashlight. Instead .of pressing the conductor MA against the base 32 proper of the bulb 28 as in the flashlight above described, the conductor 34A is moved into engagement with the reflector 3%} upon pressing red and blue blisters MA and iSA, respectively, of the tube ii-A which correspond to blisters 44 and it of the tube i l thereby moving said conductor into electrical communication with the base of the bulb. A black blister 66A of the flashlight 'lilA corresponds to the blacl; blister 36 of the tube i i and operates a loop slide or frictionally resistant member can and yoke lZA similar to the loop and the yoke 32 which collectively may be referred to as a slide.

The flashlight lliB shown in Fig. 5 is similar in many respects to the flashlight in but instead of having its magnifying tip bulb 26 forced against the front transparent cap NE of the casing, said bulb extends into interflts with a frustoconical collar 5% serving as a support and cenvision is made in the flashlight GB for causing 1 it to shine steadily unless continuing pressure is applied against a red blister 52, such pressure 4 causing the conductor 34B to be forced against the base 21 of the bulb 26.

In order that the user may readily find the various blisters in the tube, it is contemplated to apply fluorescent paint to said blisters.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a flashlight, a flexible casing, a battery having two contacts, a bulb having a base which is in engagement with one contact of the battery, a flexible conductor which is in engagement with the other contact of the battery and which is arranged adjacent to the casing, and a dielectricslide which straddles and is forced against the base of the bulb and which is interposed between a portion of the flexible conductor and the casing, said casing having one identified portion against which pressure is brought to force the flexible conductor away from said slide and against the base of the bulb to ignite the bulb so long as pressure is maintained against said identified portion, said casing having a second identified portion against which pressure is brought to move the slide transversely of the casing on the base of the bulb to move the flexible conductor into contact with said base, said slide being adapted to hold the conductor in contact with the base even though pressure against the second identified portion of the casing is released, said casing having a third identified portion against which pressure can be brought to move the slide in an opposite direction and accordingly to move the flexible conductor away from the base of the bulb thereby extinguishing the bulb.

2. In a flashlight, a flexible casing, a battery having two contacts, a bulb having a base which is in engagement with one of said contacts, a flexible conductor which is in engagement with the other of said contacts and one portion of which is arranged adjacent to the casing, and a dielectric slide which straddles and is forced frictionally against the base of the bulb and which is interposed between the casing and a second portion of the flexible conductor, said casing having one identified portion which is forced against said one portion of the conductor to force said conductor away from said slide and against the base of the bulb to ignite the bulb so long as pressure is maintained against said one identified portion, said casing having a second identified portion against which pressure is brought to force the slide against said second portion of the conductor and to move the slide and the conductor transversely of the casing on the base of the bulb thereby causing the conductor to engage said base, said slide being adapted to hold the conductor in contact with said base even though pressure against the second identified portion of the casing is released.

3. In a flashlight, a battery having a pair of contacts, a bulb having a base which is in ening said loop against the base of the bulb, one

identified portion of the casing adjacent to said one portion of the loop being yleldable to enable pressure exerted against said one portion of the 5 casing to move the loop in one direction to force said conductor against the base of the bulb thereby causing the bulb to be ignited, said casing having a. second identified portion which is arranged adjacent to said portion of the conductor and is yieldable to force independently of the loop the conductor against said base of the bulb thereby causing said bulb to be ignited only so long as pressure is exerted against said second identified portion.

ROBERT G. AKERLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Paivio June 29, 1926 Lennan Mar. 18, 1941 Gey Oct. 16, 1945 Falge Oct. 4, 1949 Falge Oct. 4, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 25, 1934 

